Clarification on determining primary species in accordance to MSC CR v2.0 Background An MSC Pre-Assessment (MSC PA) of the Mexican grouper longline fishery that takes place in Campeche Bank in the state of Yucatan in Mexico was hired in March 2014 by Sea Delight Ocean Fund, with financial support from the Resources Legacy Fund’s Sustainable Fisheries Fund. Intertek Fisheries Certification conducted the MSC PA using the MSC Certification Requirements (MSC CR) version 1.3 that were in force at the time. The MSC PA final report was received in June 2014, before the MSC CR version 2.0 were released to the public on 1st October 2014 and became effective on 1st April 2015 (see MSC CR v.2.0, page 6).
The MSC CR v2.0 brings the change of assessing non-target species depending on whether they are under management (primary) or not (secondary), instead of on whether they are retained or discarded. Therefore, species classification needs to be updated.
The MSC CR v2.0 considers primary species where all the following criteria are met
Species in the catch that are not covered under P1 because they are not included in the UoA; Species that are within scope of the MSC program defined in FCR 7.4.1.1 (not Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds nor Mammals); Species where management tools and measures are in place, intended to achieve stock management objectives reflected in either limit or target reference points. In cases where a species would be classified as primary due to the management measures of one jurisdiction but not another that overlaps with the UoA, that species shall still be considered as primary.
The MSC CRv2.0 considers Secondary Species in P2 as species in the catch that are within scope of the MSC program but are not covered under P1 because they are not included in the Unit of Assessment and
Are not considered “primary” as defined previously, or
Species that are out of the program, but where the definition of ETP species is not applicable.
Considerations The Official Mexican Standard NOM-065-SAG/PESC-2014 is the official document to regulate the use of grouper and associated species, in water under federal jurisdiction of the Gulf of México and Caribbean Sea. 21 grouper species are considered as target species & 16 snapper species are considered as associated species (Table 1).
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The Fisheries National Chart (2018) is the last updated official document that includes information on the fishery. This is a non-biding document that summarizes the information of the commercial fisheries in Mexico. This update includes as target species only the red grouper (Epinephelus morio) and black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci) both evaluated in MSC P1.
The CNP (2018) considers 33 species as associated species including groupers, snappers, rays and sharks. However, no reference points are established for associated species (Table 1).
On the other hand, the same document considers a Snapper Fishery where the target species are Lutjanus campechanus, L. vivanus and L. buccanella. The Snapper Fishery is managed through fishing permits and established fishing gear. However, no reference points are established yet. No minimum catch size, time of closure and/or a catch quota has been determined.
Conclusion Therefore, considering all the information presented previously since there are no reference points considered for the associated species, nor any of these species are enlisted in Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) they are considered as Secondary Species.
This gives as a result
PI 2.1.1 GREEN instead of red PI 2.1.1 GREEN instead of red PI 2.1.1 GREEN instead of yellow
Consequently, The FIP is no longer addressing these Pi`s.
References CITES, 2019. Appendice I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Checklist of Cites Species. http://checklist.cites.org/#/en (last review may 2019)
DOF, 2018. Acuerdo por el que se da a conocer la actualización de la Carta Nacional Pesquera. 11/06/2018.
INAPESCA, 2012. Plan de Manejo pesquero de la pesquería de mero en la peninsula de Yucatán, México. 85 pp.
Intertek Fisheries Certification. 2014. Pre-assessment Report for the Campeche Grouper Fishery – Final 62 pp.
MSC, 2014. MSC Fisheries Certification Requirements and Guidance – version 2.0. 540 pp.
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Table 1. Associated species of the Grouper Gulf of Mexico fishery and its appearance in the CNP (2018) and the NOM-065-SAG/PESC-2014.
Family name Scientific name Common name CNP NOM 2018 065
Sparidae Calamus bajonado Mojarron *** ***
Sparidae Calamus campechanus Cachipluma ***
Sparidae Calamus nodosus Mojarra, pluma, *** cachipluma
Carcharhidae Carcharhinus acronotus Cazón ***
Serranidae Cephalopholis cruentata Cabrilla o cherna *** *** enjambre
Serranidae Cephalopholis fulva Cabrilla roja *** ***
Dasyatidae Dasyatis americana Raya grande ***
Serranidae Dematolepis inermis Mero mármol ***
Serranidae Epinephelus adscensionis Cabrilla, payaso verde *** ***
Serranidae Epinephelus drummondhayi Lenteja abadejo *** ***
Serranidae Epinephelus guttatus Payaso rojo, cabrilla *** *** roja
Serranidae Epinephelus itajara Cherna *** ***
Serranidae Epinephelus mystacinus Mero listado ***
Serranidae Epinephelus striatus Mero del caribe, *** *** cherna
Serranidae Gonioplectrus hispanus Bandera española o *** biajaiba
Haemulidae Haemulon plumieri Chac-chi, boquilla *** ***
Serranidae Hyporthodus flavolimbatus Mero negro, fiat *** *** (antes E. )
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Family name Scientific name Common name CNP NOM 2018 065
Serranidae Hyporthodus nigritus (antes E.) Cherna pintada *** ***
Serranidae Hyporthodus niveatus (antes E.) Corvinato *** ***
Labridae Lachnolaimus maximus Boquinete ***
Malacanthidae Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps Corvinato ***
Lutjanidae Lutjanus analis Pargo criollo, pargo *** lunarejo
Lutjanidae Lutjanus buccanella Huachinango aleta *** negra
Lutjanidae Lutjanus campechanus Huachinango de *** *** castilla
Lutjanidae Lutjanus griseus Pargo mulato, pargo *** *** gris
Lutjanidae Lutjanus jocu Pargo perro, cabellera *** ***
Lutjanidae Lutjanus synagris Rubia, villajaiba *** ***
Lutjanidae Lutjanus vivanus Huachinango ojo *** amarillo
Serranidae Mycteroperca interstitialis Gallina, mero boca *** *** amarilla
Serranidae Mycteroperca microlepis Abadejo, Gag *** ***
Serranidae Mycteroperca phenax Cabrilla , negrillo, *** *** abadejo
Serranidae Mycteroperca tigris Cuna gata o vampiro ***
Serranidae Mycteroperca venenosa Guacamayo, arigua *** ***
Lutjanidae Ocyurus chrysurus Rubia, canane *** ***
Serranidae Paranthias furcifer Cuna lucero o diablito ***
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Family name Scientific name Common name CNP NOM 2018 065
Rachycentridae Rachycentrum canadum Cobia *** ***
Carcharhinidae Rhizoprionodon terranovae Cazón tripa o cazón de *** ley
Lutjanidae Rhomboplites aurorubens Besugo *** ***
Carangidae Seriola dumerilli Esmedregal ***
Carangidae Seriola rivoliana Esmedregal ***
Carangidae Seriola zonata medregal rayado, *** *** coronado
Sphyrnidae Sphyrna tiburo Cornuda cabeza pata ***
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